Ratchet wrench



Aug. 14, 1951 E. H. SIGSBEY RATCHET WRENCH Filed Aug. 5, 1947 A JNg ENTOR. I

WW /9mm I V AZ'TO/QYEYJ l 'atented Aug. 14, i951 RATCHET WRENGH Edwin H. Sigsbey, Willoughby, Oilio 7 Application August 5, 1947', ScrialNo'. 766,214

3 Claims. (on. 81-4-79) This invention relates to an improved wrench and more particularly to an open-end ratchet wrench which maybe operated in close quarters on hexagonal nuts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a ratchet wrench which is: unusually strong and eificient in its operation and which may be used to tighten or loosen awnut with only small movements of the wrench handle and. without the necessity of ever completely disengaging the nut from the wrench.

It is a further object to provide a. ratchet Wrench which is much thinner than ordinary ratchet socket wrenches and which can, as a result, he used immany narrow places where socket wrenches cannot be inserted.

A still further object of the invention isto provide a movable jaw and stop arrangement which may be employed in a variety of open-end wrenches of different sizes and shapes, as for example, in ofiset wrenches.

These objects are accomplished by the invention as hereinafter described and as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the head and a portion of the handle of the wrench engaging anut, a smallportionbeing shown in section.

Figure 2 is an elevation in which the wrench is viewed looking toward the head.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 and illustrates the position of themovable jaw and stop in relation to the station-- ary portion of the wrench.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movable jaw, and Figure 5 of the stop.

The structure of this novel wrench may best be understood by means of the drawing, in which like parts are represented in the different views by like numerals; The fixed portion of the wrench comprises a handle I and an open-endhead 2,, having jaws -3 and 4 on either side of the opening. The upper fixed jaw 3 is solid and has aflat inner face. 5 which is one at the surfaces which bears on a nut, as represented in Figure 1 by the numeral 6. The lower stationary jaw 4 isgouged out its mid-section to provide a recess 1 in which the movable jaw 8 and the stop 9 are positioned. The result of gouging out the mid-section of the lower jaw 4 is to provide a shell consisting of the outer plates [8- and' H which are joined by a web 12 lying on the outer curved surface of the jaw- 4.

The movable jaw 8, as best seen in Figure 4, has a flat upper surface I3 adapted to bear on a nut and has an arcuate forward face H' which conforms to the outer curvedportion of the recess 1' in the lower stationary jaw- 4'. The rear face of the movable jaw is irregular, consisting first of a square ofiset projection I5 at its upper end, then of a flat vertical section I6, then of a. short bevelled section [1, and finally of a shortindented face which makes a right angled notch I8 at its upper end and which meets the lower terminus ot the arcuate taco; M at its lower end. The vertical section l6.- and. the bottom of projection I 5- virtual-ly forma recessed seat for engaging upon stop it. About two thirds of the way down the arcuate face M is a narrow transverse slot-- I 9 which: is adapted: to engage the endof the spring 20.

Extending transversely through the movable jaw 8 is a square channel 2t, through which: passes a pin '22- by means of which the movable jaw is movably attached to the fixed lower jaw 42 The jaw should be made of hardenedsteel.

The stop 9 is a smallrectangular piece at hardened steel' having one corner curved to conform to the inner, lower corner of the recess 1 in the lower stationary jaw 4-. It contains a transverse opening 23,. through which passes a pin 24 which holdsthe stop in fixed relation to the jaw 4-.

The manner in which the movable jaw 8 and the stop 9 are attached to the stationary portion 01E the wrench shown in Figure 1. It will be observed that the stop is held in fixed relation to the stationary part of the wrench, and that inthe ordinary condition, the movable jaw 8 is positioned with the: notchl8 engaging the upper corner of the stop 9. The spring 28, which consistsof a strip at spring steel, forces the mov able jaw away from the web l2, while the jaw prevented from moving too far in this direction both by the pin 22' and by an abutment 25 on the inner side of the. opening of the wrench, which acts as a stop-for the projection l5 on the movable jaw 8.

When the wrench engages a nut as shown in Figure 1, thenut may be tightened by turning the handle in a clockwise direction. When this is done, pressure is transmitted to the movable jaw 8 through its outer edge, particularly at the point 26. The jaw is prevented from moving in response to pressure applied from this point by the stop 9 and by the abutment 25. Consequently, the nut is gripped securely by face 5 of the upper jaw and by face I3 of the movable jaw and is turned as the wrench turns.

When it is desired tochange the position inwhich the wrench grips the nut, the handle is turned in a counter-clockwise direction. When this is done, pressure istransmitted from. the nut to the movable jaw through its inner edge, particularly at thepoint 27'. This force has a down ward and an outward component and results in the movable jaw being displaced so that the notch I8 no longer engages the stop 9'. The jaw is then free to move against the spring 28,.i'n the direction of' the Web it until the jaws of the Wrench have slipped past the corners of the nut and are in position to engage the next set of parallel faces of the nut. Whenthis occurs, the pressure. on the inner edge of the movable jaw is released and the spring is able to snap the jaw back into operative position.

It will be apparent that various structural changes are possible in the wrench without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, instead of the stop 9 being a separate piece connected to the stationary jaw by a pin, it may be an integral part of the jaw, in which case the recess 1 is shaped so as to provide the flat surfaces and the corner which are shown in the drawing as provided by the stop. It is preferred, however, to have the stop be independent as it is simpler in that case to shape it accurately and it is also possible to harden it independently or even to make it of a harder steel than that used in the stationary part of the wrench.

:,Although I havevstated that the movable jawand the stop are attached by means of pins, which may. be secured in a drive fit or may be swagged, itis equally possible to employ bolts, rivets. or similar attachments. It is of course, desirable to avoid any fittings which project out from the smooth sides of the wrench, which would catch on anything in their path and which would increase the effective width of the wrench.

This wrench has a number of advantages over other ratchet wrenches previously used, one of these being its high strength. The only movable part is the jaw 8 and it will be seen that pressure exerted on this jaw is transmitted through a considerable area directly to the stop 9 and hence to the stationary part of the wrench. In some ratchet wrenches described in the prior art, pressure on the movable members is transmitted' to the main body of the wrench through a pin, which is the weak point of the structure and is subject to breakage.

.This wrench is narrow and may be inserted into narrow apertures where many other types of wrench could not be used. The tool facilitates.

work on pipe fittings in situations where pipes are grouped in closely spaced relationship, or in.

places where one or more rods or other structural members are located close to the pipe fitting to which the wrench is applied. While the wrench herein shown includes a single head, it is obvious that a head may be provided at each end of the wrench handle. Furthermore, the principle is adapted to practically any type of open-end wrench.

-I claim: a a

1. In a ratchet wrench, a head havinga recess extending inwardly from one side thereof and terminating at a point spaced from the other side of said head to thereby formtwo opposed gripping surfaces, a movable jaw positioned in one of said opposed gripping surfaces and mounted within said head for movement toward and away from said oneside of said head and the otherof said opposed gripping surfaces, resilient' means carried by said head and engaging said movable jaw for urging the latter away from said one side of said head and toward said other of said opposed gripping surfaces into engagement with a nut disposed intermediate said movable jaw and said other of said gripping'surfaces, and means including spaced abutments carried by said head and engageable with said movable jaw for holding the latter in its position of movement away from said one side of said head when the latter is rotated in one direction and for returning said movable jaw to its position of movement toward said one side of said head when the head is rotated in the opposite direction.

2. In a ratchet wrench, a head having a recess extending inwardly from one side thereof andterminating at a point spaced from the other one side of said head and having another wall at la. point spaced from the other side of said head,

a movable jaw disposed within said second named recess and mounted on said head for movement toward and away from said arcuate bounding wall and the other of said opposed gripping surfaces, resilient means interposed between said arcuate bounding wall and said movable jaw for urging the latter away from-said arcuate bounding wall and toward said other of: said: opposed;

gripping surfaces into engagement with a nut.

disposed intermediate said movable jaw and said:

other of said gripping surfaces, and meanslcarried by said head and engageable with said mov-' able jaw for holding the latter ,inits'position of' movement away from said arcuate bounding wall when said head is rotated in one direction and for returning said movable jaw to a position. ad.

jacent said arcuate bounding wall when said head isrotated in the. opposite direction.

3. In a ratchet wrench, a head having a recess extending inwardly from one side thereof and. terminating at a point spaced from the other.

side of said head to thereby form two opposed gripping. surfaces, there being another recess in said head having one end extending through one of said gripping surfaces of said first named recess, said last named recess having an arcuate movable jaw contiguousto saidlarcuate bound-- ing wall being shaped complementaryto the latter, resilient means interposed between said arcuate bounding wall and said movable jaw for urging the latter away from said arcuate bounding wall and toward said other of said opposed gripand engageable with said movable jaw for 'holdingthe latter in its position of movement away from said arcuate bounding wall when said head is rotated in one direction and for returning said movable jawto a positlonadjacent said arcuate bounding wall when said'head is rotated in the opposite direction:

. RnrEneNoEs time The following references are of record in l the" file of this patent? UNITED sTATEsrAT Nrs Number- Name Datea 577,770 a Martin l= Feb; 23, 1897- 1,048,380 Youngquist Dec. 24, 1912 1,320,668 -Askman Nov. 4, 1919- 1,362,481' Dobbins l Dec. 14, 1920 1,444,034 a Palm Feb. 651923 1,499,271 Warren June 24, L924- l,898,388' Parker Feb. 2l, 1933 2,386,444 De Graw Oct. 9, 1945 EDWIN H. sIGsBEY 1 

